Peter Lindstrom

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Microsoft Exam TS: Windows 7, Configuring (70-680) Notes

This page contains an outline of my notes from studying for the Microsoft 70-680 TS: Windows 7, Configuring exam. It is certainly not fully inclusive, nor can I guarantee its accuracy. These are merely my notes covering specific information I deemed important enough to write down. I published it online to give you a good summary of the content covered on the 70-680 exam, and maybe it will be of some help to you while studying for the exam.

Contents

• Windows 7 Requirements and Overview
• Installing Windows 7 Overview
• Windows 7 Installation Sources
• Upgrade Paths
• Two Easiest Ways to Upgrade
• Anytime Upgrade
• User State Migration Tool - USMT

Windows 7 Requirements and Overview

• System Requirements
  • 32-bit
    • 1GHz Processor
    • 1GB of RAM
    • 16GB free HDD space
    • DirectX 9 compatible video card with Windows Display Driver 1.0+
  • 64-bit
    • 1GHz Processor
    • 2GB RAM
    • 20GB free HDD space
    • DirectX 9 compatible video card with Windows Display Driver 1.0+
• Upgrade Advisor
  • Identifies potential compatibility issues with Windows 7 and any installed devices or software. As many peripherals as possible need to be installed when the advisor is run for the best results.
  • Just download and install the advisor. Will communicate with Microsoft, but no identifiable information will be shared.
• Upgrade Requirements
  • Upgrade from Windows Vista
    • Latest Service Pack may be required
  • Upgrade from Windows XP
    • Backup all data
    • Install a new copy of Windows 7
• Windows 7 Editions
  • Starter
  • Home Premium
  • Professional
  • Enterprise
  • Ultimate
• Common Features
  • Windows Desktop
  • Windows Search
  • Internet Explorer 8
  • Windows Media Center
  • Home Group
    • Easily network several computers and a printer on a home network
  • Backup and Restore utility
• Professional/Ultimate/Enterprise Edition Features
  • XP Mode
    • Run applications in an emulated Windows XP environment
  • Domain Join
  • Network Backup/Restore
• Ultimate/Enterprise Edition Features
  • BitLocker drive encryption
  • 31 language packs

Installing Windows 7 Overview

• Two installation options
  1. Sole Installation (one operating system on one computer)
  2. Dual-boot Installation (2+ operating systems on one computer)
• Dual-Boot with Windows Vista
  • Using Disk Manager:
    1. Shrink volume
    2. Create a new volume using "New Simple Volume Wizard"
       1. Specify volume size (default is largest possible)
       2. Assign drive letter (default is next available letter)
       3. Format/Pick file system (default is NTFS—best choice)
       4. Enter a new volume label (whatever you want)
• Install Windows 7
  • Choose either Custom or Upgrade
• After Installation
  • Input a new username, computer name, and product key.

Windows 7 Installation Sources

• ISO Image
  • Virtual Machine
    • 3rd party software used to mount the ISO file. Need to first configure the appropriate settings and set the ISO install path.
  • Virtual Drive
    • 3rd party software used to emulate a disk drive.
• Network Share
  • Before installation or image creation, you need to first have:
    1. Answer file
       • A script that provides input values used during setup (computer name, product key, etc).
       • Use Windows System Image Manager to create the answer file, called "unattend.xml".
    2. Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM)
    3. A catalog
       • Binary file with the state of system settings in an image.
    4. Windows Pre-installation Environment (Windows PE)
       • A limited 32-bit version of Windows.
    5. Windows Setup
    6. Image X
       • Command line tool used to create installation images.
    7. A Windows image
    8. System Preparation Tool (sysprep)
       • Prepares the system for image creation. Deletes all temporary files and settings that would simply take extra space in an image and serve no purpose.
  • Deploying an image using a Network Share
    • You need the following items to create an image:
      1. Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) installed on a technician computer.
      2. The original Windows 7 DVD
      3. A USB drive
      4. A blank writable DVD
  • The Process
    1. Create a lab environment
       • The "lab" will have a technician computer and the master computer. The master computer is the computer that the image will be created from. Windows AIK needs to be installed on the technician computer.
    2. Create an answer file
       • Using Windows SIM create an answer file and validate to correct any errors. Copy the answer file to a removable storage device.
    3. Create master installation
       • Install Windows on the master computer and configure to your own specifications. This will be the image that is deployed to other computers.
       • Run sysprep once all settings have been configured.
    4. Create image
       • Create a Windows PE installation disk on the technician PC.
       • Use the master PC to launch Windows PE.
       • Use Image X to capture the image and save it to a network share.
    5. Deploy image
       • Install Windows PE on the new computer.
       • Format the HDD and copy the image file from the network to the newly formatted disk.
       • Use Image X to apply the image to the computer.
  • Windows Deployment Services (WDS)
    • Uses Windows PE as its pre-installation environment.
    • Generally WDS is a quick, reliable method of deployment but there are some limitations to consider:
      1. Administrator privileges are required to authorize a WDS server in Active Directory. You need to be a Domain Administrator to administer the WDS server and you also needs to be an administrator on the WDS server itself.
      2. WDS is designed for high-speed connections. Slower connections may result in errors or make imagining impossible.
      3. If both the client and server are virtualized on the same system, problem can occur at boot. It is possible have one virtualized (either the client or server) but not both.
      4. WDS is designed to be the only role installed on the server.
    • Create image by creating a Capture Image
      • Must have Windows 7 installed and prepped using Sysprep. Store the image on a local or network drive to upload to the WDS server.
  • USB Drive
    • Best for installing Windows 7 on a computer without a DVD drive. Also, USB drive installations are generally quicker than a DVD drive.
    • A 4GB flash drive is required.
    • To prepare the USB disk
      1. Delete all existing information
      2. Create a partition on the USB disk
         1. Open the command line
         2. Type diskpart
         3. Type list disk to show all available disks
         4. Choose the appropriate disk by typing select disk <disk number>
         5. Type clean
         6. Type create partition primary
         7. Type select partition 1
         8. Type active
      3. Format the partition as FAT32
         1. Type format fs=fat32
      4. Assign a drive letter to the USB disk
         1. Type assign letter=p
         2. Exit diskpart
      5. Copy Windows 7 installation files to the USB disk
         1. Type xcopy <source drive>:\*.* /s/e/f <destination drive>

  Upgrade Paths

  • Windows XP to Windows 7
    • Not a direct upgrade. Possible upgrade paths include
      • Clean install
      • Upgrade to Windows Vista first, then Windows 7
      • Configure dual-boot to install both Windows XP and Windows 7.
  • Windows Vista to Windows 7
    • Direct upgrade path. Files, settings, and applications can be preserved.

  Two Easiest Ways to Upgrade

  • Easy Transfer Tool to migrate files, but not system settings and applications
    • Included in Windows 7 installation DVD.
    • User can specify files/folders to transfer and the method to transfer those files.
    • Cannot transfer system files or applications.
    • Can use a USB drive, Easy Transfer Cable, or network to transfer.
    • Three main phases in the Easy Transfer Tool:
      1. Preparing for migration – launch the Easy Transfer Tool
      2. Using the tool to copy files into a migration file at a specified location.
      3. Copying the migration file to the Windows 7 installation.
    • To use the Easy Transfer Tool:
      1. Open the Easy Transfer Tool (migwiz) from the Support, migwiz folders on the Windows 7 installation DVD.
      2. Choose the appropriate transfer method (using an Easy Transfer Cable, USB drive, or network)
      3. Select which computer you are using (either the old or new computer)
      4. After a scan for files is complete, deselect which information you do not wanted copied (if any). By default all information is selected to be copied.
      5. Specify a password to protect the files. Not required but recommended, especially if the data will be saved on a portable USB drive.
      6. The files will now save into one migration file.
      7. On the new computer open the Easy Transfer Tool
      8. Select the migration file to open and input the password (if any).
      9. The files will be transferred to the new Windows 7 installation. A reboot is required to complete the transfer process.
  • In-Place Upgrade to keep all settings and applications
    • Need to run the Upgrade Advisor first before performing an in-place upgrade.
    • To perform an In-Place Upgrade:
      1. Insert the Windows 7 installation DVD. Run setup.exe on the root.
      2. Click Install Now button
      3. Usually choose to go online for updates to setup
      4. Accept the terms and conditions
      5. Click the upgrade button.
      6. The upgrade is performed and a copy of the compatibility report will be saved to the user's desktop.

  Anytime Upgrade

  • Upgrade from one edition of Windows 7 to a better edition (Home Premium to Profession, for example)
  • Windows 7 cannot be downgraded.
  • To perform an Anytime Upgrade:
    1. Type anytime upgrade and press enter in the search bar on the Start Menu.
    2. User must purchase an upgrade key.
    3. Enter that product key into your computer to unlock the new features.
    4. Specific instructions are included in Anytime Upgrade.

  User State Migration Tool - USMT

  • Used to upgrade from Windows XP or Windows Vista to Windows 7 on a large scale.
  • USMT is included with the Windows AIK.
  • Migrate user-specific settings and files contained on a specific computer.
  • For small scale transfers, use the Easy Transfer Tool.
  • Components:
    • ScanState command
      • Creates an inventory of files and settings on the source computer. Compresses files and settings in a temporary location on a different drive. The original files and settings remain unchanged. The data files can be encrypted.
    • LoadState command
      • Copies the files and settings to the destination computer. Also decrypts the files if they are encrypted.
    • XML Files
      • Several XML files contain rules and settings for the migration.
      • MigApp.xml
        • Application migration settings. Used to configure how data is migrated from supported applications like preferences in Mozilla Firefox.
      • MigUser.xml
        • User-specific files and settings. Used to configure how settings and files are migrated to the destination. Also includes the Access Control List (ACL) and all Public or All Users folders.
      • MigDocs.xml
        • User documents settings. Locates specific user files to migrate. It is not advisable to use MigDocs.xml and MigUser.xml at the same time. Duplicate data will be migrated since they both look at the user files.
      • Config.xml
        • Used to exclude specific files from the migration. By default, all files are listed in the config.xml file with a value of yes. Change the yes to a no to prevent migrating that file.
    • Component manifest files
      • If source and destination computers are running Windows Vista or Windows 7, the manifest files will automatically determine which operating system specific settings to migrate. Cannot be modified.
    • Down-level manifest files
      • If the source computer is running Windows XP, the manifest files will automatically determine which operating system specific settings and Internet Explorer settings to migrate. Cannot be modified.
    • Before performing a migration using USMT:
      1. Create a test environment that matches the production environement. Test the migration before performing on a "real" user.
      2. Perform a migration on one or a small group of users first.
      3. Always shut down all applications before running ScanState.
      4. Always run ChkDsk before running ScanState.
      5. Do not use MigDocs.xml and MigUser.xml at the same time. Usually this will create duplicate data.
    • Using ScanState
      1. ScanState is a command line tool that will find and copy the files and settings to a temporary location from the source computer.
      2. The ScanState syntax is:

         scanstate [StorePath] [/i:Path\FileName] [/o] [/v:VerbosityLevel] 
         [/nocompress] [/localonly] [/encrypt /key:KeyString|/keyfile:Path\FileName] 
         [/I:Path\FileName] [/progress:Path\FileName] [/r:TimesToRetry] 
         [/w:SecondsBeforeRetry] [/c] [/p] [/all] 
         [/ui:DomainName\UserName|LocalUserName] 
         [/ue:DomainName\UserName|LocalUserName] [/uel:NumberOfDays|yyyy/mm/dd|0] 
         [/efs:abort|skip|decryptcopy|copyraw] [/genconfig: Path\FileName] 
         [/targetxp] [/config:Path\FileName] [/?|help]
         					

         • StorePath – Folder location to store the files. Cannot be placed on the C:\ drive or specify more than one location.
         • /encrypt – Encrypts the store files. Must be used with the /key or /keyfile parameter.
         • /key – Sets the encryption key.
         • /keyfile – Specifies the path to a plain text file with the encryption key.
         • /config – Sets the path and filename of the config.xml file. No path necessary if stored in the same directory.
         • /l – Sets the path to save log files.
         • /progress – Sets the path to save an additional log file with progress events.
         • /c – Instructs ScanState to continue if it encounters a non-fatal error.
         • /listfiles – Creates a text file listing all files included in the migration.
         • /all – Instructs ScanState to migrate all users on the computer.
         • /ui – Specify the users on the computer to migrate. By default USMT will migrate all users.
         • /ue – Specify the users on the computer to exclude from the migration.
         • /uel – Exclude users based on the last time they logged into the PC.
         • /I – Include XML rule files (MigApp.xml, MigUser.xml or MigDocs.xml)
    • Using LoadState
      1. LoadState is a command line tool that will copy the settings and files from the data store to the destination computer.
      2. The LoadState syntax is (mostly the same as SaveState, with a few additions):

         loadstate [storePath] [/i:Path\FileName] [/v:VerbosityLevel] [/nocompress] 
         [/decrypt /key:KeyString|/keyfile:Path\FileName] [/I:Path\FileName] 
         [/progress:Path\FileName] [/r:TimesToRetry] [/w:SecondsBeforeRetry] [/c] [/p] 
         [/c] [/all] [/ui:DomainName\UserName|LocalUserName] 
         [/ue:DomainName\UserName|LocalUserName] [/uel:NumberOfDays|yyyy/mm/dd|0] 
         [/md:OldDomain:NewDomain] [/mu:OldDomain\OldUserName:NewDomain\NewUserName] 
         [/lac:Password] [/lae] [/q] [/config:Path\FileName] [/?|help]
         					

         • /md – Change domains on the new computer. Must specify the old domain and the new domain. Can use different domains for each user.
         • /mu – Create a new username on the new computer for one or more users. Cannot use wildcards.
         • /lac – Sets USMT to use a password when creating a new local account. If this option is not set, USMT will skip any local account that exists on the computer. Default password is "password".
         • /lae – Enable local accounts created from /lac.